Tamilore Oladipo: New year, same-ish me [NEXT]

by Tamilore Oladipo

This has been a pretty terrible year. Like, if all the years of the new millennium got together, they would count 2016 as being one of the worst so far kind of terrible. From all the people that died to the terrible choices made by governments all over the world to all the natural disasters, there is not much by way of redemption for 2016. Of course, good things happened, but the media tends to sensationalise the bad and in turn, depress everyone, so it was for all intents and purposes, a bad year.

We are all pretty much begging 2016 to be over at this point and we’re looking forward to the New Year with trepidation and hope in equal measures. Change is constant and will always happen, whether we want it to or not and the coming of 2017 is part of this constancy. Apart from the general changes, however, we also have a chance to start anew (see unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions for reference) and one of the most important questions to ask ourselves as we go into the New Year is: what kind of person are you going to be?

I’ve changed a little bit, made some concessions in some areas of my life, tightened up in others. I have experienced a lot of growth, (even in height- gained an inch, yay) and I have become more of my own person than I have ever been. I’ve begun to realise what is important to me and I have been taking steps to secure my future. Normal, almost an adult things. Some of my New Year’s resolutions are: actually save some money, keep on working out, be nicer to people, study harder, etc. Like all things that exist, I am changing.

One of my favourite writers, Neil Gaiman, said “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something. So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”

So despite how terrible the past year has been, and despite the bleakness ahead in the form of exchange rates, terrible policies for entrepreneurship and bad leaders, remember that you should continue. Don’t let your mistakes or the mistakes of countless others hold you back. Change is constant and will happen whether you want it to or not. Go with the flow and don’t let yourself become so stuck in one idea that you can’t see beyond your nose. It’s the end of the year, a time to reflect on how you were and how you want to be.

I’ve changed and so have you. I’ve grown up and so have you. I’ve changed my mindset in a lot of ways and I’m not the same person I used to be and I doubt you are the same too. I’ve made some mistakes and had some triumphs. So have you. I am only human. So are you.

Don’t let fear hold you back. Make your New Year’s resolution and have your parties and be with your family and friends. We’ll all (hopefully) meet on the other side.


Tamilore Oladipo is a Mass Communication student at Pan-Atlantic University with interests in blogging, digital marketing and music.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail